Volkswagen Ireland is celebrating after end of year figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show it finished at the top of the sales charts for the first time ever. With 10,073 cars registered in 2012 Volkswagen sold 75 more cars than Toyota with Ford claiming the bronze medal.
"This is an outstanding result in what were tough market conditions in 2012," said Volkswagen Passenger Cars Deputy Brand Director John Donegan. "Given that this result was achieved even before the new Golf had arrived shows that Irish customers are navigating to the Volkswagen range for its quality, strong residual values and our strong retail offers."
Volkswagen's success comes in the face of an overall decrease in new car sales with 12 per cent less sold in 2012 than in 2011. According to Alan Nolan, Director General of SIMI, this decrease is "very much in line with our predictions."
It is hoped the new 131/132 number plates will buoy the sector in 2013 and spread sales out more evenly over the year.
"While it is too early to tell how new car sales are doing, given that today is only the first day of sales, there certainly has been a lot of interest from the public in the new number plate," said Alan Nolan. "Only time will tell what impact the new plate might have on sales but we expect demand to increase when we begin to see new cars on the road."